Amid the promises of a groundbreaking Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) in 2019, the jeepney transport leader Rommel Odevilas and his group eagerly anticipated positive change for operators and drivers along the Guadalupe-FTI route. They shared the vision for climate action and a modernized transport system but found themselves trapped by financial constraints when attempting to procure modernized jeepneys.
Driven by hope, they consolidated into a corporation, a requisite under PUVMP, guided by a foreign entity. However, assurances of compensation—pledged at P800 daily for operators and P700 for drivers—remain unmet, leaving them in a precarious position.
With the surrendered franchise for 57 units and unfulfilled promises looming, the traditional jeepneys became defunct, utilized by the corporation that failed to honor their agreement. This dire situation echoes across multiple small transport groups, compelling Mody Florenda, the national president of PISTON, to declare a nationwide transport strike on Dec. 14 and 15.
Florenda revealed a shared narrative of broken promises and lost livelihoods, prompting the call to rescind Department Order 2017-011 and extend the Dec. 31 consolidation deadline. The threat of losing franchises and terminals looms large, pressuring transport groups into compliance.
Despite a prior dialogue with LTFRB officials presenting grievances and demands, including an extension of traditional jeepney franchises, lifting the consolidation deadline, and revising certain provisions, resolution remained elusive. The officials stood firm on the non-negotiable Dec. 31 deadline, sparking frustration among PISTON leaders.
Expressing concern for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands, Florenda emphasizes the need for unity among transport groups. Their fight isn’t against modernization but for a more considerate approach that safeguards operators and drivers’ welfare. Highlighting cases like Odevilas’ group and others on the losing end of the PUVMP, they advocate for a systematic modernization plan that doesn’t jeopardize these individuals’ futures.
The ongoing battle between transport groups and government policies underscores the critical need for a balanced approach in implementing modernization strategies that prioritize both progress and the people affected.